Tuesday, January 24, 2012

"Annie".

This is coolbert:

Thanks to the mamalisa web site we have the lyrics to the famous Japanese song "sakura sakura":

"noyama mo sato mo
mi-watasu kagiri
kasumi ka kumo ka
asahi ni niou
sakura sakura
hanazakari
sakura sakura
yayoi no sorawa
mi-watasu kagiri
kasumi ka kumo ka
nioi zo izuru
izaya izaya
mini yukan"

"Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
On Meadow-hills and mountains
As far as you can see.
Is it a mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the morning sun.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Flowers in full bloom.
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms,
Across the Spring sky,
As far as you can see.
Is it a mist, or clouds?
Fragrant in the air.
Come now, come now,
Let’s look, at last!"

Cherry Blossoms. The Cherry Blossom Squadron. The Japanese kamikaze! Young men of valor falling to their death at the very height of their beauty and splendor!! As with the cherry blossom so with the Japanese youth during the Second World War [WW2]!

During the early 1970's too that Japanese song, "Sakura Sakura" also the theme song for the "Sakura Hour" Japanese language Chicago area FM ethnic radio broadcast Sunday evenings. And as hosted by Iva D'Aquino. Better known to the world as Iva Toguri. Also known infamously as Tokyo Rose. Iva claiming she was coerced to make the propaganda broadcasts for the Japanese militarists, calling herself "Annie" at the time, her female taunting voice only one of several as heard by American servicemen in the Pacific theatre during WW2.

Iva repatriated to the United States in the aftermath of the war, serving a prison sentence [later pardoned by President Ford], "Annie" the voice of which once again heard on the radio, that Japanese import trinket shop as run by Iva doing quite well for decades, Iva leading your average-everyday middle class American life as if nothing out of the ordinary had ever happened.

That choice of theme song for the "Sakura" hour and as chosen by Iva [?] the significance of which was not mere coincidence? I leave the devoted reader to the blog to make their own judgement. I am seeing something that is not there?

coolbert.

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